Tribunal backs council and court over rogue HMO landlord

A landlord in Hainault, London, Pellumb Mazreku, was fined over £11,000 for failing to license a House in Multiple Occupation (HMO). Following complaints about overcrowding and fire safety hazards, Redbridge council inspected the property and found it housed 12 people, including children, without proper fire detectors or doors. The fine was upheld by the First Tier Tribunal Property Chamber after Mazreku’s appeal. Redbridge council emphasized the importance of borough-wide mandatory HMO licensing to protect tenants and warned landlords to comply with licensing requirements to avoid enforcement action.